Brick + Beam Detroit

Home repair & rehab can create toxic lead dust when painted surfaces are disturbed or demolished. When you’re repairing your home, make sure you understand the risks and are working lead-safe. 

Understanding Lead Risks
Where lead is common in the home, what to look out for, and the risks.  

• Toxic structures: Speculation and lead exposure in Detroit’s single-family rental market Study by Joshua Akers , Alexa Eisenberg , and Eric Seymour

• “I Found Lead Paint In My Historic House” An illustrated account of a mother (Alissa Walker @awalkerinLA ) who finds lead in her 100+ year old house, featuring info and links about Lead.

• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, talking about the dangers of lead: youtube.com/watch?v=GUizvEjR-0U&feature=youtu.be

• Cosmos episode covering C.C. Patterson (fast forward after min 26) documentarymania.com/player.php?title=The%20Clean%20Room

Working Lead-Safe
The EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP Rule) requires that contractors performing projects are certified by EPA and follow lead-safe work practices. The RRP rule does not apply to homeowners working on their own homes, BUT do-it-yourself projects can easily create dangerous lead dust, so follow the work practices to ensure you’re protecting yourself and your family. 

• EPA Lead Information, including RRP guides for DIY: www.epa.gov/lead

• Steps to Lead Safe Renovation, Repair, and Painting: epa.gov/sites/production/files/2013-11/documents/steps_0.pdf

More info on Lead

• ClearCorps’ Lead Education Resources: https://clearcorpsdetroit.org/resources/leadresources/

• Preservation Brief 37 Appropriate Methods for Reducing Lead-Paint Hazards in Historic Housing: nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/37-lead-paint-hazards.htm

• Attached is our presentation from B+BD’s “Lead-U-Cation!” event February 2020. 

• B+BD's Contractor List features contractors that specialize in lead and environmental remediation. 

Links and PDF attachment from B+BD's “Lead-U-Cation!” event February 2020. The class was facilitated by State-Certified Lead Professional Rashard Montgomery, researcher and professor Joshua Akers, Ph.D., ClearCorps Executive Director Diane McCloskey, and RRP-certified builder Alissa Shelton.